Do You Steal Hotel Shampoo?
Posted by in Travel
Admit it. You’ve stuck hotel shampoo, conditioner, and lotion into your suitcase as you were packing (and maybe a shower cap and sewing kit too). I’m guilty as charged on this one too! It’s not exactly stealing – I paid for the room, right? But then I bring it home and stuff it to the back of the bathroom closet and it never sees the light of day again.
My planned usage for these goodies is always:
a) It’s nice to have some back up products in case I suddenly run out, and
b) They are convenient for packing if you want to bring toiletries on a trip.
Honestly though, they mostly just sit in the back of the closet, taking up space. I’ve hit on a great solution for these.
Donate them to a women’s shelter, homeless shelter, or veteran’s hospital. Toiletries are desperately needed items at these places and will be welcome donations. Note that domestic violence women’s shelters do not advertise their locations, so you can’t just drop off your donations at the shelter. Check their web site for an administrative site where donations will be accepted.
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This is a great idea for these things. We have a cabinet full of it. 🙂
The thing I’ve found is they do get old and change color, etc., so you just end up throwing them out if you don’t use them, so you might as find a nice use for them.
Good idea, Brette. I recently cleaned out all my little bottles and brought them, along with some clothing, to the local Goodwill.
I used to pocket these things before I became an innkeeper. Now I notice when people take all the amenities home. Sometimes people even take 8-ounce bottles of liquid soap. Although I like the idea of giving them to a shelter, I need to stand up for the innkeeper and mention that we go out of our way to provide these products. If unused, they can be given to the next guest. I buy only 100% and you would be surprised at how expensive they can be.
Sorry, that is 100% natural products.
Great tip. Mine are all in the guest bathroom that no one uses because we never have guests.
I’ve been donating them to women’s shelters for years. However, Alexandra has a point. I’ll be thinking twice before bringing the extras home from now on, especially from an inn or bed and breakfast.
I would feel really uncomfortable taking them from a small inn or B&B. But you’re right – wherever they are, they are part of the bottom line cost.
I used to take the hotel shampoos and such with me but with all of the restrictions on airlines, it doesn’t seem to make sense anymore. I will say, there are some hotel shampoos that just stand out. I can’t remember the property but I had this white tea shampoo at one hotel that just smelled so good.
I toured a hotel recently and the manager told me that those little bottles are just canned. I didn’t think to ask specifically about ones that didn’t appear to be opened, but my sense was that any bottles in the hotel room were discarded for health/safety reasons. So I certainly take them with me if I’m staying at a large hotel. I can see that it might be different for small innkeepers, though.
I brought home shampoo from Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii. I just found it in the back of the closet and even though it’s old, I’m using it now. It smells so good.
My fave take away item from hotel rooms are the shower caps. They make great reusable food/plate covers.
Love that!
You’re right! I know you’re right! But I just don’t know if I can stop dragging the toiletries home like they’re trophies. They’re the closest thing to swag in my life.
I know – it feels like an extra bonus somehow. I have to admit I also always steal the pen and notepad. But I use those!